canal fever
TRANSCRIPT
Canal FeverCHANNING SHATTUCK
PANAMA CANAL
Panama was an extremely ambitious goal. It was a huge project, as well as before its time. The French battled with disease, climate, and environment when they attempted to build it, experiencing many casualties. They only got about 1/3 of the work done before their funds ran out. Many investors lost all of their money and the business went kaput.
PANAMA CANAL
Then, later, the USA comes in. Theodore Roosevelt sends a gunboat and a revolution to declare that part of Panama “buildable”. Once they are able to start building, they do so, except this time they plan on building a “tier” style canal rather then digging to the bottom to lock sea levels. This was an amazing (and simple) engineering feat. Now, they charge boats for passage through the canal and the territory is considered neutral.
LOS ANGELES AQUEDUCT
A huge project – the idea to move a river to Los Angeles. Williams wanted to move the Owen’s river miles and miles across a hot dry desert and lead it to the city of Los Angeles – fundamentally setting the start of modern day Los Angeles. When they built the canal to LA, there was a lot things going on, particularly a giant scam (at least I think so). By removing the river, lands dried up and were sold for cheap and desert lands that were bought up beforehand quickly became luscious fertile lands.
LOS ANGELES AQUEDUCT
LA also expanded its jurisdiction so that almost anywhere nearby could be called “LA”. The main thing to take from this is how important water was. A city without water is hardly a city. By giving LA water, LA would thrive. Heck, it would boom! The city experienced rapid unforeseen growth. The lands around the canal sky-rocketed in value. LA became the place to be. Who knew all it took was a river?
